Amazon Offering Sezmi

By Greg Tarr -- TWICE, 9/1/2010

Belmont, Calif. - Hybrid Internet and broadcast TV delivery service Sezmi said Wednesday that it has reached a partnership with Amazon.com to distribute the company's all-in-one personalized television service and equipment to customers in 36 markets across the U.S.

Amazon joins Best Buy as the second major retailer to handle the new low-cost TV service alternative.

Sezmi said interested consumers can determine if their home is within Sezmi's service coverage area at www.sezmi.com.

Sezmi provides consumers with greater control over how they purchase and view content. The system combines live television with on-demand movies, television shows, web videos and an HD DVR capable of automatically recording and recommending shows for each member of the family.

The Sezmi system costs $149 and includes a 1TB HD media recorder that automatically organizes live, recorded, on-demand and online content, along with an indoor television reception system for local HD broadcast channels and cable channels.

 The monthly subscription service comes in two tiers, the first of which is Sezmi Select for $4.99 per month. This option offers HD DVR capabilities, live local broadcast channels, an on-demand store that features thousands of free and pay-as-you-go movies and shows, and access to Internet content such as YouTube and video podcasts, along with the personalized user interfaces for each member of the household.

The second option, called Sezmi Select Plus, is priced at $19.99 per month and includes everything in the Select package, with the addition of an expanded content lineup of live and on-demand cable channels from the most watched cable networks.